By Stanley Iwuoha
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has secured the support of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to safeguard the data privacy rights of Nigerians.
This collaboration is a significant step towards advancing data protection in Nigeria, particularly in the face of disruptive technologies.
NDPC’s National Commissioner, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, who disclosed this emphasized the importance of protecting citizens’ privacy in the digital age.
He noted that decisions on data privacy rights have far-reaching implications for all citizens, and it’s essential to collaborate with NJI to keep judicial officers informed about privacy jurisprudence.
“It is the digital age, and the protection of the privacy of all citizens worldwide is paramount. It is now the right of all citizens to have their privacy protected. This is why countries across the globe are putting adequate measures in place to ensure enforceable data protection rights, as well as establishing data protection authorities to enforce data protection laws,” Dr Olatunji stated.
The leader of NJI, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, pledged to collaborate with the NDPC to raise awareness on data protection and privacy within the judiciary. He accepted the NDPC’s proposal for capacity building for judges, NJI fellows, and employees.
According to the eminent jurist “The issue of data protection is very important. It is new, and judges need to be trained. The first step we should take is to review the Act (NDP Act) that established the Commission. Additionally, there is a need for us to train our fellows on data protection.”
The NDPC and NJI have established a technical working group to develop a work plan and coordinate initiatives for capacity building. This working group is expected to report back soon to commence implementation.
